A "killer shrimp" that slaughters many creatures without eating them is invading the British Isles, and researchers fear it could wipe out native species.
Scientists in the United Kingdom are deeply concerned about what impact this alien invader from western Asia might have should it gain a foothold in the U.K. or beyond.
The creature classified as Dikerogammarus villosus is actually not a shrimp but another type of crustacean known as an amphipod. Although it reaches only 1.2 inches (3 centimeters) long, it has unusually large and powerful mouthparts to bite and shred its prey, and it often gets called a "killer shrimp" because of its vicious behavior, killing and maiming indiscriminately.